Atlanta Falcons: Why They're Not So Different From the Super Bowl Team of 1998

When Morten Andersen kicked a game-winning overtime field goal in the 1998 NFC championship game to beat the Randy Moss, Cris Carter-led Minnesota Vikings and catapult the franchise to its first Super Bowl ever, the Falcons had the personnel makings of a dynasty. 

Quarterback Chris Chandler had a career year, thanks to two outstanding vertical threats in Terance Mathis and Tony Martin, while running back Jamal Anderson balanced the attack with his powerful, downhill running style.  The offense favored multiple tight end sets over spread formations as part of the team’s then-traditional run-and-shoot offense.

Defensively, the Falcons were equally outstanding and balanced in their 4-3 base.  They had an elite defensive end in Lester Archambeau, a good mix of youth and experience at linebacker between Keith Brooking and Jessie Tuggle, and an athletic, hard-hitting secondary led by cornerback Ray Buchanon and free safety Eugene Robinson.

Anderson was considered one of the best kickers in the game, and rookie wide receiver Tim Dwight was nothing short of sensational on returns.  Atlanta finished that season fourth in both total offense and defense (in terms of points).  They took down Steve Young and Jerry Rice in the playoffs before dismantling the Minnesota team that ranked second in NFL history in points scored that season.

Dial up Atlanta’s current roster, and you’ll find some eerie similarities.

Matt Ryan is already playing out of his league, racking up 3,705 yards on a 62 percent completion percentage and an outstanding 28 to 9 touchdown/interception ratio.  Roddy White has become the complementary deep threat to Michael Jenkins, as the use of tight end Tony Gonzalez on underneath routes has drastically opened the field for Ryan.

Running back Michael Turner, the workhorse, has the same north-south running style as Anderson, and the same acceleration in space.  Running behind a much-improved offensive line, he accrued 1371 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season.

Defensively, Atlanta still has a top-notch pass rusher in John Abraham.  At linebacker, veteran Mike Peterson has been a huge asset to pass coverage, while his flanker, Curtis Lofton, is a talented young run-stopper who led the team with 93 tackles.  In the backfield, cornerback Dunta Robinson has the hard-hitting, physical style to play bump-and-run coverage, while corner Brent Grimes has the speed and vertical to cover the fastest receivers on the deep ball.

Kicker Matt Bryant could just as easily be called “Matty Ice” after connecting on 28 of 31 field goals this season, including three game-winners.  And wide receiver/cornerback Eric Weems has emerged as a Pro Bowl return man.

The biggest difference is that this year’s team finished fifth in total offense and defense, not fourth, and in terms of yardage, not points.  As for the upcoming divisional game against the Green Bay Packers (10-6), Aaron Rodgers and leading receiver Greg Jennings is hardly the tandem of Young and Rice. They lacked a ground game until last week, and Atlanta’s defense has done well against the run all year.

Green Bay is still playing well, and as Seattle just proved, anything is possible in the NFL playoffs.  But for all the skeptics who have given Atlanta little to no credit this season, check out the franchise history books.  This team has been there before, with an unsettlingly similar roster.